Method for producing copies by reflectography



Aug. 18, 1936. L. P. F. VAN DER GRINTEN 2,051,582

METHOD FOR PRODUCING COPIES BY REFLECTOGRAPHY Filed Aug. 3, 1934 MW Ifta r727 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD FOR PRODUCING COPIES BY BEFLECTOGBAPHY Lodewijk Pieter Frans van der Grinten, Venlo,

Netherlands, assignor to Naamlooze Vennootschap Chemische Fabriek L. van der, Grinten, Venlo, Netherlands, a limited liability company of Netherlands Application August 3, 1934, Serial No. 738,850 In the Netherlands August 11, 1983 7 Claims- (01. 95-5) In the production of reflexion copies a process the greater is the ratio between the average is known according to which the radiation, beintensity of the regions of greater actinic infore its passage through the light-sensitive layer tensity and the average intensity of the regions in which the image has to be formed, is subof smaller actinlc intensity. divided into small regions of greater and of It is not obvious that this ratio must be relasmaller ti g; t it tlvely great. For, the assumption would have This subdivision may be eifected for example been logical that a reflexion copy established by causing the irradiation to take place through with application of a subdivision of the irradiaa so-called screen which may be provided betion always must bestronger than a refiexion 1O tween the source of radiation and the sensitive copy Obtained out u div s owev S a l 10 sheet, advantageously in the immediate neighthe abovementioned ratio in the subdivision bourhood of the sensitive sheet, possibly in direct might s. ev 18 ot the casecontact therewith. Practically useful screens When the abovementioned ratio is insuflicient, are not only covering screens, but also lens, prism, generally even worse results are obtained by the or similar screens. The lens, prism, or similar process with subdivision than by that without 15 screens are hereinafter called dividing screens. s on.

By the expression dividing screen" must theremy when e rat in t e Subdivision is sumfore be understood any structure that is pervious ci ntly great better results arc obtained by the to radiation and that intercepts the radiation p oce s with Subdivision n y that Without energy less than a covering screen when it disubdiv sion. 20

vides a homogeneous radiation into small regions It is a o d a tageous inene al in Working of greater and smaller activity. with dividing Screens to have the gions of As materials for making these dividing screens greater v y greater i ty as Small 88 there come into question all materials that are possible.

pervious to radiation, as quartz, different sorts It has been found that a ratio between the 25 of glass; celluloid, cellulose, cellulose derivatives, pe t e t act v t es of the regions o a er and gelatine and the like. The choice of the mate'- smaller activity that is as l es possible can be rial is determined, inter alia by the desired index attained by a combination of a lens or prism of refraction, by the mannerof making, and or screen with a covering screen, he rays being employment etc. Materials like celluloid, celconcentrated for example by the lenses on the 30 lulose, cellulose derivatives, gelatine, and the PeTViOUS Paris of the covering e Tnc imlike, have for example the advantage that they pervious portions intercept the dispersed radiaare unbreakable and can be made into thin foils. tion in the regions of the smaller activity that The method with dividing screens has the adis caused for example by imperfections of the vantage that, in comparison with covering lenses. 35 screens, less of the radiated energy is intercept- In the case of the employment of combinations ed. In the case of dividing screens a considerof dividing and covering screenings the em. able portion of the impinging radiation energy ployment of radiation that is directed as paris indeed let through and although there is suballelly as possible is desired.

division into small regions of greater and smaller The expression "parallelly directed radiation 40 actinic activity the total quantity of the energy is in reference hereto in this description and in let through does not differ considerably from. the the claims to be understood in a definite wide total impinging energy. Dividing screens are sense, and indeed, in such a manner that for exconsequently preferred in many cases to covering ample a radiation by a punctiform or approxiscreens. mately punctiiorm source of light at a distance 45 The present invention relates to the employnot considerably greater than the dimensions of ment of dividing screens in reiiectography. Acthe system to be irradiated likewise comes under cording to the invention it has been found that the expression parallelly directed radiation. in the case of the method with dividing screens The rays have then, it is true, at-diiferent parts refiexion copies are obtained that are the stronger (at a great distance from one another) of the '50 entry surface of the system to be irradiated directions that differ-inter se, but at these parts themselves and in their immediate neighbourhood in the entry surface there are practically only rays of a definite direction. In practice it is in fact without further means extremely dimcult and in many cases even practically impossible to produce a perfectly parallelly directed radiation (which consequently exhibits a like direction at all points throughout) of suflicient intensity over somewhat large surfaces. Therefore a radiation which proceeds for example from a punctiform or approximately punctiform source of radiation as for example an arc lamp at not too small a distance is to be regarded for the object of the invention (at least in comparison with a diffuse radiation) in practice as a parallelly directed radiation.

Instead of a punctiform source of radiation there may be advantageously used a linear or band-like source of radiation or a punctiform source of radiation moving rectilinearly, if there is employed for the production of the reflexion copy a subdivision of the radiation into small regions of greater and less actinic intensity that is linear. In such a case it is advantageous in the employment of the method according to the invention to arrange the linear or band-like source of radiation parallelly or approximately parallelly to the lines of the division; In the case of the employment of a linear or band-like source of radiation as, above mentioned this radiation must be regarded as parallelly directed in the sense of what has been hereinbefore stated-at least in the case of a breadth of the band-like source of light that is relatively not too great. The rays have then it is true different directions inter se in their projection on a plane located perpendicularly to the divided and linear regions at different lines located at a. great distance from one another of the entry surface of the system to be irradiated, but at these lines themselves and in their immediate neighbourhood in the entry surface there are practically only rays that have a definite direction in the above mentioned projection. A particularly good arrangement for what has been described above. especially for the irradiation of large surfaces, is obtained by giving the surface to be irradiated the form of a circular cylinder, which may move or not whilst the source of radiation is located or moves in the axis of the cylinder.

The abovementioned lens or prism covering screens may be advantageously obtained photochemically from sensitive material which is furnished with a lens or prism scream If one starts for example with a positive diazotype layer combined with a cylindrical lens screen and irradiates this system through the lenses on a background that is non-reflective or is reflective as little as possible, the diazo compound is decomposed in the focal lines. These consequently remain pervious to radiation, whilst the parts outside the focal lines become impervious during later formation of colouring matter. The irradiation is in this case advantageously carried out slowly, or care is taken that the diazo layer contains sufficient moisture and maybe through cooling remains at so low a temperature that the formation of injurious little bubbles of nitrogen during the irradiation is reduced as much as possible or prevented. If instead of the diazo layer there is employed a silver compound layer, a like effect may be produced by reversing the picture after the irradiation.

Also, without reversing the picture by means of negatively acting sensitive layers, as of silver compounds, dividing covering screens can be produced by carrying out the irradiation at a definite angle of incidence or several definite angles of incidence which are different from the angle of incidence that is to be employed during the use of the system obtained in this way as a dividing covering screen.

In this way the portions of the silver-compound layer that are situated outside the foci or focal lines to be employed later are rendered covering and consequently intercepting. Instead of diazo and silver compounds there may of course be employed any other photographic method that comes into question therefor. Thus, for example, dividing screens with reflective portions may be obtained by first producing a bichromate gelatine screen and then silvering or nickeling it. (See French patent specification 619,719.) Such screens have, in addition to the advantages of dividing screens, also the advantage of being reflective. Of course one may, without a photochemical method, simply put together a lens or prism screen and a covering screen, but in that case it is practically impossible to prevent moir effects. It is not necessary to place the covering portions in the plane of the foci or focal lines.

They may also be placed between the lenses before this plane, and, even, at not too great a distance, behind this plane. It is, however, advantageous to keep as small as possible the distance between the plane in which are located the covering portions and that in which are located the foci or focal lines.

During the production of reflection copies by means of a lens covering screen obtained photochemically it is important that during the making of the lens covering screen itself and during the production of the reilexion copies therewith each part of the entry surface of the lens covering screen is impinged upon by a radiation of the same or approximately the same direction in both cases, in both cases in the definite wide sense as stated above in the explanation of the expression parallelly directed radiation, but with this exception that if the covering screen is obtained by a photochemical process on a negative acting layer without reversion of the negative, there must exist a definite difference between the direction of the rays in making the covering screen and the direction of the rays in using the screen. This difference, however, must be as much as possible the same in every place of the sheet.

This analogy of the two radiations may for example be realized by choosing the system comprising the source of radiation and the surface to be irradiated during the making of the lens covering screen as analogously as possible to the system that is desired to employ during the subsequent production of the reflexion copies. If, afterwards, it is desired to produce the reflexion copy with a definite angle of incidence, for example, greater than 0", the lens covering screen required therefor must be made also with the same angle of incidence or when using a negative acting layer without reversion with an angle of incidence differing in a definite manner from the angle of incidence employed in the use of the screen.

In the same sense as that above mentioned for lens screenings, prism screenings are to be used combined with covering screenings. Also in this case the covering portions may be suitably reflective.

Figure 1 of the drawing shows a screen comprising a lentlcular support and a sensitive layer of the diazo type having passages made therethrough by irradiation by light normal to the layer.

Figure 2 o! the drawing shows a screen comprising a lenticular support and a light sensitive layer irradiated through the lenticulations by light at an angle to the normal.

Example I A celluloid film provided with cylindrical lenses of a thickness of 0.4 mm. is covered on the side opposite the lenses with a sensitive layer which contains paradiazodimethylmetatoluidine chloride with resorcinol.

Instead of this there may for example be employed a celluloid i'oil L R of a thickness of 0.4 mm. provided with cylindrical lenses having a radius of 0.15 mm. and a distance oi! the focal lines between each other 0.14 mm., which is provided on the non-lens side with a cellulose layer it which has a thickness of 0.02 mm. and which contains the diazo compound and the azo component (see Fig. 1). These foils are, with their lenses turned towards the source of radiation, irradiated with the help of a tubular mercury-vapour lamp, which is arranged parallelly to the lines of the screen in the middle in front of the system at a distance of 40 cm. or is located in the axis of a circular cylinder on which is located the system to be irradiated. Advantageously there is employed a weak source of radiation or it is weakened artificially so that no or few small bubbles of nitrogen are formed. Instead of the abovementioned eellulose layer there may be used an acetyl cellulose layer which has been made wholly or partially hydrophilic by treatment with. alkali, the sensitive layer being applied in the hydrophilic portion. For the celluloid foil there may be substituted an acetyl cellulose toil, and then the non-screened surface may be directly made hydrophilic and prepared. In this case there is no inconvenience arising from small bubbles of nitrogen even when the illumination is strong. Behind the sensitive layer there is an absorbing background A for example of black velvet. Irradiation is continued until on the microscopic examination of a. sample it appears that the focal lines b remain free from colouring matter on development with ammonia vapour, whilst colouring matter is formed in the intermediate portions t. Development with alkali is then carried out. In this way lens covering screens have been obtained that can serve tor the making of reflexion copies. In this case the lenses are to be turned towards the source of radiation and irradiation is advantageously effected with an arrangement which is like or analogous to that mentioned above for the making of the lens covering screens. This arrangement need not be'exactly the same; for example there may be substituted for the tubular source or radiation an arc lamp which can be moved in the line in which the tubular source of radiation ,would have been located. As sensitive layers there are used for example a highly contrasting silver bromide gelatine layer with a structure varyin from grainless to fine-grained, a diazo layer or a negatively working blue-print layer,

.which are located on a celluloid carrier, for example of a thickness of about 0.1 mm., and which are advantageously arranged in such a manner that the sensitive layers are turned towards the side of the screen and thus away from the original. The reflexlon copies thus obtained are stronger than those that are obtained with the lens screens alone in a like arrangement, because the ratio between the actinic intensity in the pervious portions to that in the impervious portions is greater. time is shorter than that which would be necessary for the production of the same reflexion copies by means only of equivalent covering screens in the same arrangement.

Example I! AlensscreenLRotasizeo120x30cm. (see Fig. 2) consisting of an acetyl cellulose toil 0.16 mm. thick which is provided on one side with cylindrical lenses having a radius oi 0.04 mm. and a mutual distance of the focal lines of 0.04 mm., is provided on the lens-tree side with a sensitive chromate gelatinelayer d. Behind the sensitive layer there is an absorbent background A. Irradiation is effected from the lens side by means 01' an arc lamp without reflector at a distance of about 1 m. at an angle of incidence of 11 (this angle of incidence is measured in the middle of the irradiated system and in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the lenses). The angle oi! incidence is chosen on the-left or the right in the plane through the source of radiation perpendicular to the axes of the cylindrical lenses.

Ai'ter the irradiation the chromate gelatine picture is silvered or nickeled to make it highly reflective. There is obtained a reflective covering in the parts s. The lens covering mirror screen obtained forms a specially advantageous combination for the production oi. reflexion copies. In this production there are advantageously employed sensitive layers 0! for example a thickness 01 0.01 mm. or less and irradiation is efiected advantageously by means of alike or analogous system but now with an angle of incidence of 0. The pencils of rays then pass through between the parts 3. The result may be still somewhat improved by efiecting the irradiation during the making of the lens covering mirror screen not with an angle of incidence oi. exactly il but variously with angles of incidence varying between 3 and 15, whereby a larger covering region t is produced.

Also, in the making of the lens covering mirror screen angles of incidence of about 34 2 about 57, and so on, or varying angles of incidence, which, as above indicated, are in the neighbourhood of these values, may be employed. Also several sources of radiation may be employed, it being assumed that their rays impinge at the above mentioned angles of incidence.

It in the abovementioned the lens-free side of the lens screen is provided with a silver bromide layer (a similar combination is used for colour kinematography) there is obtained a non-reflective lens covering screen which likewise gives a clearly better efiect in the production 0! reflexion copies than the lens screen alone in the same arrangement.

In the making of this lens covering screen there is used a relatively weak source of radiation at a suitable distance. The angle of incidence is in this case for example again chosen at il on the right or the left. After the usual treatments, as developing, fixing and washing, the lens covering screen is suitable for the making of reflexion copies at an angle of incidence o! 0*. It is also suitable for the making oi. reflexion copies at angles 01 incidence of 23, 46 and so on on the right or on the left.

"When in the making 01 the lens covering screen At the same time the irradiation the screen and also in the middle of the lens covering screen to be made, or of the system to be copied, at least at the same place of the lens covering screen, as well during its making as during its use.

Example In A foil of a cellulose derivative, 10 x 15 cm. with a thickness of 0.14 mm., which is provided on one side with cylindrical lenses having a r us of 0.04 mm. and a distance of the focal lines between each other of 0.04 mm., 'is provided on the other sidewith a grainless silver bromide gelatine emulsion layer of a thickness of 0.02 mm.

This foil is turned with the lens side towards the source of radiation and is irradiated by means of an arc lamp placed in the middle in front of the system at a distance of 50 cm.. so that the angle of incidence of the rad ation is 0.

The are lamp has a clear globe, no reflector, and a black or dark background. The axes of the cylindrical lenses are arranged parailelly to the Hydroqulnone 6 gm. Metol 0.6 gm. Crystalline sodium sulphite 46 gm. Potash 45 gm. Bromide of potash 6 Km. Potassium ferrocyanide 9 gm. Distilled water 600 cc.

After developing, washing in distilled water takes place for two minutes and then treatment in a reversing bath consisting of Potassium permanganate 2 gm.

Concentrated sulphuric acid 10 cc. 1000 cc.

Distilled water until all the black silver has disappeared. I Then washing takes place in distilled water for 5minutes.

Thereupon treatment is eflected with a solution of 50 g. of sodium bisulphite in 500 cc. of distilled water until complete colourlessness is obtained.

Washing with distilled water then takes place for 5 minutes.

Then two minutes in soda lye of 0.75 per cent.

Then an irradiation is effected as above but with the gelatine side turned towards the source of light.

Developing then takes place for one minute in the above mentioned developer. Thorough washing concludes the operation. There has thus been obtained a lens covering screen which can be used in the manner stated in Example I for the production of reflexion copies at an angle of incidence of 0".

What I claim is:-

1. A method for making reflexion copies prising placing upon an original a sensitive sheet having a layer of sensitive material thereon, su-

perimposing on said sensitive sheet an impervious apertured screen associated with a member of light refracting material for receiving radiation from a source and projecting the same on to the screen, saidmembercomprising a multiplicity of optical devices so disposed that the most active beams produced thereby coincide with the screen apertures, causing a radiation to pass first through said member and then through the apertures of said screen to subdivide said radiation into a plurality of small separated distinct beams of irradlations, causing said separated beams to "pass through said sheet on to the original, and

'causing'the rays emitted from said beams striking the lighter parts of the original to be reflected upon the layer of sensitive material of said sheet.

2. A method for making reflexion copies comprising placing upon an original a sensitive sheet having a layer of sensitive material thereon, superimposing on said sensitive sheet an impervious apertured screen associated with a member of light retracting material for receiving radiation from a source and projecting the same on to the screen, said member comprising a multiplicity of lenses so disposed that the foci thereof coincide with the screen apertures, causing a radiation to passfirst through said member and then through the apertures of said screen to subdivide said radiation into a plurality of small separated distinct beams of .irradiations, causing said separated beams to pass through said sheet on to the original, and causing the rays emitted from said beams striking the lighter parts of the original to be reflected upon the layer of sensitive material of said sheet.

3. A method for making reflexion copies comprising placing upon an original a sensitive sheet 'having a layer of sensitive material thereon, su-

perimposing on said sensitive sheet an impervious apertured screen associated with a member of light refraeting material for receiving radiation from a source and projecting the same on to the screen, said member comprising a multiplicity of prisms so disposed that the most active beams produced thereby coincide with the screen apertures, causing a radiation to pass first through said member and then through the apertures of said screen to subdivide said radiation into a plurality of small separated distinct beams of irradiations, causing said separated beams to pass through said sheet on to the original, and causing the rays emitted from said beams striking the lighter parts of the original to be reflected upon the layer of sensitive material of said sheet.

4. A method for making reflexion copies comprising placing upon an original a sensitive sheet having a layer of sensitive material thereon, superimposing on said sensitive sheet an impervious apertured screen associated with a member of light. retracting material for receiving radiation from a source and projecting the same on to the screen, said member comprising a multiplicity of optical devices so disposed that the most active beams produced thereby coincide with the screen apertures, causing a radiation to pass first through said member and then through the apertures of said screen to subdivide said radiation into a plurality of small separated distinct beams of irradiations, causing said separated beams to pass through said sheet on to the original, and causing the rays emitted from said beams striking the lighter parts of the original to be reflected upon the layer of sensitive material of said sheet.

said radiation being emitted from a point like source of radiation.-

5. A method for making reflexion copies comprising placing upon an original a sensitive sheet having a layer of sensitive material thereon, superimposing on said sensitive sheet an impervious screen having band-like apertures associated with a member of light retracting material for receiving radiation from a source and projecting the same on to the screen, said member comprising a multiplicity of optical devices so disposed that the lines of the most active beams produced thereby coincide with the screen apertures, causing a radiation to pass first through said member and then through the apertures of said screen to subdivide said radiation into a plurality of small separated distinct band-like beams of irradiations, causing said separated beams to pass through said sheet on to the original, and causing the rays emitted from said beams striking the lighter parts of the original to be reflected upon the layer of sensitive material or said sheet, said radiation being emitted from a point like source of radiation moving in a straight line substantially parallel to the bands of the screen and to the optical devices of the member of light retracting material.

6. A method according to claim 1 in which the system to be irradiated is located in a circular cylinder in the axis of which the source of radiation is located.

7. A method for making reflexion copies comprising placing upon an original a sensitive sheet having a layer of sensitive material thereon, superimposing on said sensitive sheet an impervious screen having band-like apertures associated with a member of light refracting material for receiving radiation from a source and projecting the same on to the screen, said member comprising a multiplicity of optical devices so disposed that the lines of the most active beams produced thereby coincide with the screen apertures, causing a radiation to pass first through said member and then through the apertures 01 said screen to subdivide said radiation into a plurality of small separated distinct band-like beams of irradiations, causing said separated beams to pass through said sheet on to the original, and causing the rays emitted from said beams 20 striking the lighter parts of the original to be reflected upon the layer of sensitive material of said sheet, said radiation being emitted from a band-like source of radiation substantially paral lel to the bands of the screen and to the optical 25 devices of the member of light retracting material.

LODEWIJK PIETER FRANS VAN nan GRINTEN, 

